# NTSB FTW93FA115: Chance Vought F4U-4, N68HP, Breckenridge, TX, April 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 1, 1993, 15:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Breckenridge, TX - Coordinates: 32.750106, -98.910316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7501&lon=-98.9103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA115 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING ## Analysis THE PILOT OF THE WWII VINTAGE MILITARY AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 5,000 FEET. THE PRESELECTED FORCED LANDING AREA WAS BEYOND THE GLIDING CAPABILITIES OF THE AIRPLANE, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A ROUGH AND UNEVEN FIELD. THE FUSELAGE WAS SEVERED AFT OF THE PILOT'S SEAT AND BOTH WINGS AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION ## Factual narrative On April 1, 1993, at approximately 1540 central standard time, a Chance Vought F4U 4 airplane, N68HP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following the loss of engine power, near Breckenridge, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, nearly an hour after his departure, the airplane was climbing through 5,000 feet, when without warning, the engine loss power. The pilot stated that he selected a suitable forced landing area as he established the best glide speed and completed the emergency procedures in an attempt to regain power. The preselected forced landing area was beyond the reach of the airplane, so the pilot elected to land straight ahead in an open field. After impacting small trees, the airplane impacted in rough and uneven terrain, went through a fence post and a fence, crossed a two lane highway, coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway, with the right wing partially blocking the right lane. The fuselage was severed just aft of the pilot's seat. Additionally, the underside of the fuselage and both wings were heavily damaged. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post - object - fence ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68HP), registered now, S/N 97302 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHANCE VOUGHT F4U-4 - Registry model: [Chance Vought F4U-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/chance-vought-f4u-4) (registry code 2152608) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 97302 - Airframe hours: 2345 - Engines: P&W R-2800-18W 2400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pardue, Howard E., doing business as Breckenridge Avn. Museum - Registered owner: Pardue, Howard E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1993, 35 hours before - Destination: BKD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 10,700 total, 670 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABI, 48 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930401007519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930401007519A), Apr 1, 1993: Vought F4U4, Breckenridge, TX, Substantial damage. Reported power loss. Crash landed gear up. Sliding through fences and road ditch. No engine anomalies found. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.